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Franklin is a six-episode Apple TV historical drama about Benjamin Franklin’s 1776 diplomatic mission to France, not a documentary or a cradle-to-grave biography. Michael Douglas anchors the story as Franklin tries to win French support for the American independence movement. Its historical setting and stakes are grounded in real events, while dialogue and some character roles are shaped for drama.
What is Franklin about?
Released April 12, 2024, Franklin narrows its attention to a pivotal chapter in Benjamin Franklin’s life. In 1776, Franklin travels to France on a mission to secure support for the American cause. The story follows diplomacy as a high-stakes contest, with American independence depending in part on whether France can be persuaded to help.
Apple’s synopsis describes Franklin as world famous for his electrical experiments when he undertakes the secret mission. The series is based on Stacy Schiff’s 2005 book A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America, and uses that diplomatic episode rather than attempting to cover Franklin’s entire life.
Franklin review: how does Michael Douglas’s performance work?
Douglas gives the series a commanding center. His Franklin is a statesman whose influence comes from patience, social intelligence and the ability to read a room as well as from public fame. That suits a drama built around persuasion: much of the conflict is diplomatic rather than military, and the stakes depend on conversation, access and political calculation.
#1 Best Overall
The format gives the story room to stay with the people and pressures around Franklin instead of rushing through a lifetime of achievements. Noah Jupe plays Franklin’s grandson Temple, while Daniel Mays plays Edward Bancroft. Ludivine Sagnier appears as Madame Brillon, and Thibault de Montalembert as Vergennes. The supporting cast helps place Franklin within a French political and social world, rather than treating the mission as a solo triumph.
Is Franklin historically accurate?
It is best approached as historical drama, not a documentary. The setting and central diplomatic effort have a real historical basis: the French alliance that followed became important to the American cause. TIME’s review describes that broad context as grounded while noting that the series also invents dialogue and alters the emphasis or roles of some figures. That is a reviewer’s assessment, not a comprehensive scholarly audit.
TIME identifies specific dramatic liberties. The series does not accurately credit Franklin with securing the Marquis de Lafayette’s congressional commission; the review says that role belonged to Silas Deane. It also notes that a memorable line framing diplomacy as “a siege” or “a seduction” was not actually spoken by Franklin. Such moments may sharpen the drama’s themes, but they should not be mistaken for verified quotations or a record of exactly what happened.
The useful distinction is between the historical framework and the scene-by-scene details. The show dramatizes a consequential mission and the alliance it helped pursue; it does not promise verbatim dialogue or an unaltered account of every person’s contribution.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsHow many episodes are in Franklin?
Apple lists six episodes in Season 1. The listed runtimes range from 49 minutes to one hour. The official U.S. listing identifies the series as a 2024 history drama and rates it TV-14; regional listings and content details can differ.
Where can you watch Franklin?
Franklin is an Apple TV series. Apple’s U.S. listing showed a seven-day free trial followed by a subscription at $14.99 per month when checked for this article; offers, prices and availability can change, and access may vary by country. Check Apple’s current local listing before subscribing. Apple lists English and French original audio and multiple audio and subtitle options, but the available languages may also vary by region.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who should watch it?
Choose Franklin if you want a character-led historical drama about the diplomatic struggle behind the American independence movement, with Douglas at its center. It is a less suitable choice if you need a documentary account, exact historical dialogue or a comprehensive biography of Franklin. Its strength is concentration: it makes one consequential mission the subject of the story.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Sources and further reading
- Apple TV Press: Franklin — release date, synopsis, rating and production information.
- Apple TV U.S. listing — episode, cast, language and subscription details.
- PBS, Amanpour and Company (April 9, 2024) — Michael Douglas discusses the series and its premise.
- TIME’s review of Franklin — discussion of the source book, historical setting and dramatic liberties.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
